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HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Major Marvel missed by a head in the 2012 Emerald at Gulfstream, but made amends this time with a perfect trip as the 8-5 chalk. The Ramseys won the Tiara with Deanallenskitten earlier on the Claiming Crown card.

“We got two today,” Ken Ramsey said after leading Major Marvel into the winner’s circle. “That’s half of what we got last year, but I’m not complaining. [Last year] That other horse ran a good race, but he redeemed himself this year.”

The 7-year-old settled into second as second-choice Plainview made the running. Jockey Julien Leparoux asked Major Marvel for a bit more when North Star Boy ranged up boldly in the stretch, but the favorite dug in gamely and edged clear late for a 1 ½-length success. The final time for the 1 1/16-miles Emerald was 1:43.72

“It was a good pace,” Leparoux noted. “My horse has natural speed and won easily. He's a horse that tries hard every time and loves to win. He did great today."

Leparoux earned accolades from Ramsey.

“I like the way Julien stalked that early speed and stayed in contact, then put that other horse away and went on,” Ramsey added. “He won easy, so I’m delighted. This was a major win for us. I think it puts us over the $12-million mark this year, so we’re in pretty good shape, money-wise. You’ve got stay in the black, you know—you can’t keep going in the red.”

As of yesterday, the Ramsey runners had earned $11,835,142 in 2013. Both Major Marvel and Deanaallenskitten picked up win checks for $68,750 at Gulfstream.

“We claimed this horse for $10,000 from Maggi Moss over at Churchill Dows and that’s been a really, really good claim, because he’d won [12] races for us since we claimed him,” Ramsey continued. “So he’s what you call a money machine, or maybe a running machine—he’s just keeps on putting them out.”

The Emerald was the eighth win in nine starts this year for Major, who has had his picture taken in 21 of 51 career appearances. His bankroll now stands at $693,128.